Ground socket



Dec. 4, 1962 D. B. PASQUALE 3,

GROUND SOCKET Filed May 17, 1960 n IIHHHIM llh llllnlh lNVENTOR DAVID B. PASQUALE ATTORNEY 3,066,769 GROUND SGQKET David B. Pasquale, 60 Woodland St., West lioylston, Mass. Filed May 17, 1960, Ser. No. 22,753 2 Claims. (til. res-2s This invention relates to a new and improved socket which is adapted to be quickly and easily pushed downwardly into the earth forming a socket support for posts or the like, for umbrella shafts and other supports in eneral, and the principal object of the invention resides in the provision of an inexpensively manufactured and quickly and easily used socket which, once thrust into the earth, will not tilt or become loosened in any way in the ground, and therefore provides a solid, efficient post holder or support as will become more apparent hereinafter.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a device as above described including a tubular memher which is flattened and closed at one end forming a point, the opposite end thereof being open, and there being provided special new and improved side wings or fins on said tube at the exterior thereof adjacent to but spaced from the open end of the tube, whereby the pointed end of the device is easily thrust into the ground and the entire device is placed in the ground so that the fins or wings become completely covered and hold the tube in the position in which it is placed, and the flattened portion near the point providing a tapered inner portion for the tubular member so that when a post is thrust into the socket, it is held firmly by reason of the fact that it is gripped by the inwardly converging walls.

The invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which PEG. 1 is a view in elevation showing the device in operation;

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof, looking in the direction of arrow 2 in FIG. 1, part being in section;

FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof, looking in the direction of arrow 3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a view in elevation of a pair of fins.

In the manufacture of the present device, a length of tubing such as galvanized iron, aluminum or the like is flattened at one end thereof. The tubing is generally indicated at it? and the flattened portion at 12. The flattened portion forms a chisel end or point 14 besides closing this end and preventing the entry of dirt thereinto.

The tubular member is provided with new and improved lateral wings or fins each of which is in the form of an L. having a short leg 16 and a longer leg 18, there being two of these members welded, riveted or otherwise secured to the exterior surface of the tubing. These fins or wings are preferably V-shaped at the lower edges thereof, see PEG. 4, so that the fins themselves enter the ground easily also and extend out laterally to a much greater extent than the outer Walls of the tubular members.

In the operation of the device, it is merely necessary to enter the pointed end 14 into the earth and to give it a tap with a hammer or stone to completely submerge the fins under the ground, and the ground will tend to fall in over the upper fiat edge surfaces at 20, 20 of the fins, see FIG. 1, the ground level being at the top end of the tube. With the device in this position, the post or pole 24 may be forcibly pushed down into the socket where it is held upright rather than wabbling and becoming loose at it would if this device were not used.

At the same time, the lower end of the tapered section at 26 of the socket grips the lower end of the pole as shown in FIG. 2 and holds the same in position firmly so that any kind of appliance may be added to the pole and held thereby, such as nets for sports use, back stops, croquet poles for flags, mail boxes, fencing, tents, beach umbrellas, and fishing poles. In the case of small tents, no guy ropes of any kind are needed and of course the sockets will hold the poles in upright position while a canvas is being spread thereon.

It will be seen that all of the objects of the invention have been achieved and that a compact, efficient, and inexpensive ground socket has been provided by this invention.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. A ground socket for supporting an upright member in the ground, said socket comprising a hollow tubular member that is circular in transverse cross section and open at one end and flat at the opposite end, said flat end being closed and forming an entry point for said socket, there being a tapered area between the flat end and the tubular portion of the socket, said tapered area tapering down from the tubular portion toward the flat end, a pair of Wings mounted on said tubular member, each wing comprising a pair of members at right angles to each other, one of said wing members being mounted on said tubular member and extending substantially tangentialy with respect thereto and the other wing member extending substantially radially thereof, said respective tangential and radial wing members being parallel, said wing members being pointed in the direction of entry or" the socket into the ground and terminating adjacent to but short of the open end of said tubular member, the latter being adapted to be pounded into the ground with the open end approximately along a line with the ground level and the wings completely buried, and said tapered portion gripping the upright member thrust thereinto.

2. The ground socket of claim 1 wherein one member of the wings is at a general right angle relative to the flat end of the tubular member, the flat end being arranged diametrically of the tubular member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 368,334 Haase Aug. 16, 1887 1,777,801 Landmann Oct. 7, 1930 1,950,751 Schultz Mar. 13, 1934 2,292,505 Black Aug. 11, 1942 2,738,941 Laurich et al Mar. 20, 1956 

